Systems and methods for monitoring location of products on shelves at a retail sales facility

RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/299,984, filed Feb. 25, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

0002This invention relates generally to managing products at retail sales facilities and in particular, to monitoring relative positions of products on display shelves at retail sales facilities.

BACKGROUND

0003Workers at retail sales facilities such as large department stores typically perform different tasks related to inventory management and stocking. One such task revolves around zoning product-displaying shelves on the sales floor of the retail sales facility to move the products that remain on the shelves (after the consumers purchase some of the products) toward the front end of the shelves so that the products are most visible and accessible to the consumers. For example, if multiple units of a product are taken off a front end of the shelf by the consumers and purchased, the products that remain on the shelf would be located at the rear end of the shelf and not as visible to subsequent consumers. Accordingly, zoning of shelves at a retail sales facility by moving remaining products toward the front end of the shelves improves product visibility and facilitates the sales of more products.

0004One disadvantage of conventional product management systems is that they do not indicate which shelves on the sales floor of the retail sales facilities need zoning, requiring workers at the retail sales facility to walk around the sales floor to visually monitor all of the shelves on the sales floor, and to zone the shelves, when appropriate. Given that a sales floor of a given retail sales facility may have thousands of shelves and hundreds of thousands of products, finding shelves that need to be zoned is a very time consuming task and requires substantial worker time resources, increasing operational costs for retail sales facilities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0005Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methods pertaining to the monitoring product placement on shelves at a retail sales facility. This description includes drawings, wherein:

0006<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of a system of monitoring product placement at a retail sales facility in accordance with some embodiments.

0007<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a simplified block diagram of an electronic inventory management device in accordance with some embodiments;

0008<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows a simplified block diagram of an exemplary user interface device, in accordance with some embodiments;

0009<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref> illustrates a simplified side elevational view of an exemplary product display shelf supporting products and including a torque measurement sensor in accordance with some embodiments;

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref> is the same view as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref>, but illustrating the shelf after three of the fore products have been removed by the consumers;

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4C</figref> is the same view as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref>, but illustrating the shelf after the remaining product on the shelf is zoned (i.e., placed at the front of the shelf);

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref> illustrates a simplified top plan view of another exemplary product display shelf supporting a product in its initial display position and including torque measurement sensors in accordance with some embodiments;

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref> is the same view as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>, but illustrating the exemplary product display shelf after the remaining product is zoned (i.e., placed at the front end of the shelf);

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates a simplified top plan view of another exemplary product display shelf supporting a product in its initial display position and including torque measurement sensors in accordance with some embodiments;

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a flow diagram of a process of monitoring product placement at a retail sales facility, in accordance with some embodiments.

0016Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common, well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0017The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

0018Generally speaking, this application describes systems and methods of monitoring product placement on shelves at a retail sales facility via at least one torque measurement sensor proximate at least one mounting location of a shelf on a sales floor of the retail facility. The torque measurement sensor is configured to measure a torque exerted by products located on the shelf relative to a fulcrum of the shelf, and to send a signal to an electronic device configured to receive electronic data associated with the products and to estimate a weight distribution of the products on the shelf based on the received electronic data and the measured torque.

0019In one embodiment, a system for monitoring product placement on shelves at a retail sales facility includes at least one torque measurement sensor proximate at least one mounting location of a shelf on a sales floor of the retail facility, the at least one torque measurement sensor being configured to measure a torque exerted by at least one product located on the shelf relative to a fulcrum of the shelf; and to send a signal to an electronic inventory management device including a processor-based control unit; and wherein the control unit is configured to receive electronic data associated with the at least one product and estimate a weight distribution of the at least one product on the shelf based on the received electronic data and the measured torque.

0020In another embodiment, a method of monitoring product placement on shelves at a retail sales facility includes: providing at least one torque measurement sensor proximate at least one mounting location of a shelf on a sales floor of the retail facility; measuring, via the at least one torque measurement sensor, a torque exerted by at least one product located on the shelf relative to a fulcrum; sending a signal from the at least one torque measurement sensor to an electronic inventory management device including a processor-based control unit; and receiving electronic data associated with the at least one product and estimating a weight distribution of the at least one product on the shelf based on the received electronic data and the measured torque.

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows a system <b>100</b> for monitoring product positions on shelves on a sales floor <b>105</b> of at a retail sales facility <b>110</b> according to some embodiments. The system <b>100</b> may be utilized in a single retail sales facility <b>110</b> (e.g., brick-and-mortar location where consumer products are sold and/or stocked), or may extend across multiple retail sales facilities <b>110</b>. It will be appreciated that the system <b>100</b> may be utilized not only for monitoring the positions of products on product display locations such as shelves on the sales floor <b>105</b> of the retail sales facility <b>110</b>, but also for monitoring products in product storage locations such as shelves in a stock room of the retail sales facility <b>110</b>.

0022The exemplary system <b>100</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> includes an electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>. The electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> facilitates the management of the inventory of products <b>190</b> at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>, and the monitoring of the positioning of and the zoning of products <b>190</b> on shelves <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b> of the retail sales facility <b>110</b>, based on electronic data obtained from other electronic devices at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>, including but not limited to inventory management database <b>130</b>, user interface device <b>140</b>, and torque measurement sensors <b>150</b>, which will be discussed in more detail below. The term “zoning” will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art as the process of pulling products <b>190</b>, which remain on the shelf after some products are purchased by the consumers, toward the front end of the shelf <b>170</b> in order to make the products that remain on the shelf better visible to the consumers and easier to access by the consumers when looking at a shelf and standing next to the shelf.

0023The electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may be a stationary or portable electronic device, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a mobile phone, or any other electronic device including a processor-based control circuit (i.e., control unit). The electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> may include and/or couple to one or more wired and/or wireless distributed communication network <b>115</b> (e.g., wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), Internet, cellular, other such networks, and combinations of such networks. The electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is configured for data entry and one-way and/or two-way communication via the communication network <b>115</b> with, for example, an inventory management database <b>130</b>, a user interface device <b>140</b>, torque measurement sensors <b>150</b>, and/or any other computing device located at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> or remote to the retail sales facility <b>110</b> (e.g., regional server). It will be appreciated that the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> may be implemented as one computing device or a series of computing devices in wired or wireless communication with one another.

0024In the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the system <b>100</b> includes an inventory management database <b>130</b> configured to store electronic information associated with the products at the retail sales facility, torque measurement data generated by and obtained from torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>, worker tasks generated based on the torque measurement data obtained and processed by the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>, unique identifiers of the torque measurement sensors <b>150</b>, and electronic data associating locations of shelves <b>170</b> with each of the torque measurement sensors <b>150</b>, as well as predetermined threshold torque values associated with each of the products <b>190</b> stored on shelves <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b> of the retail sales facility <b>110</b>.

0025While the inventory management database <b>130</b> is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> as being separate from the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> and in communication with the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> via the communication network <b>115</b>, it will be appreciated that the inventory management database <b>130</b> may be physically incorporated into and/or be electrically coupled (e.g., via a cable) to the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>. In addition, while one inventory management database <b>130</b> is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the inventory management database <b>130</b> may include two or more separate databases, for example, a product inventory database and a torque measurement values database.

0026The inventory management database <b>130</b> may be stored, for example, on non-volatile storage media (e.g., a hard drive, flash drive, or removable optical disk) internal to or external to relative to the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>. The inventory management database <b>130</b> may be stored on one or more servers or may be cloud-based. In some embodiments, the electronic data stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b> may be received from the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>. In some embodiments, the electronic data stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b> may be transmitted to the inventory management database <b>130</b> from other devices such as torque measurement sensors <b>150</b>.

0027In some embodiments, the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is in communication via the network <b>115</b> with one or more user interface devices <b>140</b>. The user interface device <b>140</b> can be any electronic device configured for wired and/or wireless communication with the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> and/or any other electronic device at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>. The user interface devices <b>140</b> allow a user (e.g., a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>) to communicate with the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to receive and/or transmit information relevant to locations of products <b>190</b> on the shelves <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b> of the retail sales facility <b>110</b>, and tasks to be performed by workers at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> relative to the products <b>190</b>. For example, in some embodiments, the user interface device <b>140</b> of a worker may receive alerts relating to variations in positions of products <b>190</b> on the shelves <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b> and/or alerts relating to tasks to be performed by the worker. The user interface device <b>140</b> may include but is not limited to a smart phone, cell phone, tablet, laptop, retail sales facility-specific wireless communication devices (e.g., electronic hand-held product scanners), or the like.

0028With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 3</figref>, the exemplary system <b>100</b> includes one or more torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> positioned proximate one or more mounting locations of product-containing shelves <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b> of the retail sales facility <b>110</b>. The torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> are configured to measure a torque (i.e., force) exerted by the products <b>190</b> displayed on the shelves <b>170</b> to the consumers. The torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> are also configured to send signals via the communication network <b>115</b> to the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> and/or the inventory management database <b>130</b> and/or the user interface devices <b>140</b>. Such signals may include electronic data representing torque values measured by torque measurement sensors <b>150</b>.

0029The torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> may be configured to continuously transmit signals including torque measurement data to the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to provide real-time torque values for each product-containing shelf <b>170</b> at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>. Alternatively, the torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> may be configured to intermittently transmit signals including torque measurement data to the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to provide torque values for each shelf <b>170</b> at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> at regular predetermined time intervals, for example, every minute, every two minutes, every 5 minutes, every 15 minutes, every 30 minutes, every 1 hour. The predetermined time intervals may also be irregular in some embodiments. Each of the torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> preferably includes a unique identifier that identifies the shelf <b>170</b> that is associated with the torque measurement sensor <b>150</b>. The electronic data representing the unique identifiers of the torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> and indicating the association of each torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> with a specific shelf <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b> may be stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b>. As such, when torque measurement data from a torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> is received in the inventory management database <b>130</b>, the torque measurement data is associated with the identifier of the torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> and with the physical location of the shelf where the torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> is installed.

0030<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a simplified block diagram of an exemplary electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>, in accordance with some embodiments. The electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> includes one or more processor-based control circuits or control unit <b>210</b>, memory <b>204</b>, and input/output (I/O) interfaces <b>208</b>. The electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> also includes one or more user interfaces <b>206</b> that allows users to interact with the inventory management database <b>130</b>, user interface device <b>140</b>, and/or torque measurement sensors <b>150</b>.

0031In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> includes one or more processors and/or microprocessors. The control unit <b>210</b> couples with and/or includes the memory <b>204</b>. Generally, the memory <b>204</b> stores the operational code or set of instructions that is executed by the control unit <b>210</b> and/or processor to implement the functionality of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>. It is understood that the control unit <b>210</b> may be implemented as one or more processor devices as are well known in the art. Similarly, the memory <b>204</b> may be implemented as one or more memory devices as are well known in the art, such as one or more processor readable and/or computer readable media and can include volatile and/or nonvolatile media, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory and/or other memory technology. In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> comprises a fixed-purpose hard-wired platform or can comprise a partially or wholly programmable platform. These architectural options are well known and understood in the art and require no further description here. The control unit <b>210</b> can be configured (for example, by using corresponding programming as will be well understood by those skilled in the art) to carry out one or more of the steps, actions, and/or functions described herein.

0032While the memory <b>204</b> is shown as internal to the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>, the memory <b>204</b> can be internal, external or a combination of internal and external memory. Also, the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> may include a power supply (not shown) or it may receive power from an external source. In some instances, the control unit <b>210</b> and the memory <b>204</b> may be integrated together, such as in a microcontroller, application specification integrated circuit, field programmable gate array or other such device, or may be separate devices coupled together.

0033The one or more I/O interfaces <b>208</b> allow wired and/or wireless communication coupling of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to external components, such as inventory management database <b>130</b>, user interface device <b>140</b>, and/or torque measurement sensors <b>150</b>, and other components of the system <b>100</b>. Accordingly, the I/O interfaces <b>208</b> may include any known wired and/or wireless interfacing device, circuit and/or connecting device. For example, in some implementations, the I/O interface <b>208</b> includes one or more transceivers, receivers, and/or transmitters that provide wireless communication in accordance with one or more wireless protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radio frequency (RF), cellular, other such wireless communication, or combinations of such communication).

0034The user interface <b>206</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> can include substantially any known input device, such one or more buttons, knobs, selectors, switches, keys, touch input surfaces and/or displays, etc. Additionally, the user interface <b>206</b> may include one or more output display devices, such as lights, visual indicators, display screens, etc. to convey to a user any information relating to positions or products <b>190</b> on shelves <b>170</b> at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> and/or worker tasks associated therewith. While <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates the exemplary components of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> being coupled together via a bus, it is understood that the components may actually be coupled to the control unit <b>210</b> and/or one or more other components directly.

0035In some embodiments, the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is configured to receive, from a torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> mounted proximate a mounting location of a shelf <b>170</b> on a sales floor <b>105</b> of the retail facility <b>110</b>, torque measurement sensor data indicating the torque exerted by one or more products <b>190</b> located on the shelf <b>170</b> relative to a fulcrum of the shelf <b>170</b>. In some embodiments, based on such torque measurement sensor data received from the torque measurement sensor <b>150</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device is programmed to estimate a weight distribution of one or more products <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b>. In some embodiments, the torque measurement sensor data is stored on the inventory management database <b>130</b> and may be obtained by the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> as a result of the control unit <b>210</b> sending a signal including a request for the torque measurement sensor data associated with one or more shelves <b>170</b> to be retrieved from the inventory management database <b>130</b> and/or another electronic database.

0036In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed to correlate torque measurement sensor data, generated by a torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> associated with a given shelf <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b> to a predetermined threshold torque value associated with one or more products <b>190</b> on that shelf <b>170</b>. Such predetermined threshold torque values may be stored on (and retrieved by the control unit <b>210</b> from) the inventory management database <b>130</b> and/or another electronic database. As discussed above, the inventory management database <b>130</b> may store known threshold torque values associated with each product <b>190</b> displayed on sales floor shelves <b>170</b> of the retail sales facility <b>110</b>. The optimal space on a shelf <b>170</b> for displaying a product <b>190</b> to consumers is usually the front-most space (i.e., space at the front end of the shelf <b>170</b>).

0037A product <b>190</b> positioned at the front end of a shelf <b>170</b> exerts a higher amount of torque on the fulcrum of the shelf <b>170</b> (which is mounted to a support structure at its rear edge) as compared to any of the other positions of that product <b>190</b> between the front and rear ends of the shelf <b>170</b>. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the predetermined threshold torque value associated with each product <b>190</b> on a shelf <b>170</b> is the torque value exerted by the product <b>190</b> when in the optimal position for being displayed on that shelf <b>170</b> to the consumers. In some embodiments, the predetermined threshold torque value associated with the shelf <b>170</b> is the total torque value exerted by all of the products <b>190</b> positioned on that shelf <b>170</b> when initially stocked for display to consumers and before any of the products <b>190</b> are purchased by the consumers. As such, this predetermined threshold torque value represents the torque on the shelf <b>170</b> at maximum on-shelf-availability of the products <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b>.

0038When consumers remove a product <b>190</b> from a shelf on the sales floor <b>105</b>, the torque on the shelf <b>170</b> exerted by the products <b>190</b> on the fulcrum of the shelf <b>170</b> decreases. Accordingly, if the torque measurement sensor data received at the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> a given point in time from the torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> associated with that shelf <b>170</b> indicates a torque value below the predetermined threshold torque value, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to interpret this value as an indication that one or more products <b>190</b> have been removed from the shelf <b>170</b> by the consumers during the preceding time interval. In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed to determine, in response to an indication of a torque value below or above the predetermined threshold torque value that the shelf <b>170</b> contains an incorrect product <b>190</b> that does not belong on the shelf <b>170</b>. For example, if all the correct products <b>190</b> that are to be displayed on the shelf <b>170</b> are identical and each have a predetermined threshold torque value of 2 ounce (oz)-inch (in), and a product <b>190</b> located on the shelf <b>170</b> was determined to exert a torque of 1 oz-in, then the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to interpret the value of 1 oz-in as an indication that an incorrect product <b>190</b> has been displayed on the shelf <b>170</b>, and to generate an alert instructing a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> to remove the incorrect product <b>190</b> from the shelf <b>170</b>. In another example, if the predetermined total threshold value for all the correct products <b>190</b> displayed on the shelf <b>170</b> is 20 oz-in, and the total torque value was determined to be 25 oz-in, then the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to interpret the value of 25 oz-in as an indication that an incorrect product <b>190</b> has been displayed on the shelf <b>170</b>, and to generate an alert instructing the worker to remove the incorrect product <b>190</b> from the shelf <b>170</b>

0039Consumers typically first remove the product that is closest to their reach and easiest to take off the shelf <b>170</b>, i.e., the product <b>190</b> having the front-most (i.e., closest to the front end) position on the shelf <b>170</b>. As a result, the remaining and now first available product <b>190</b> on the shelf is further away from the front end of the shelf <b>170</b>, and is less visible and harder to reach for the consumers than the product <b>190</b> that was removed from the shelf <b>170</b> by the consumer for purchase. In addition, when consumers remove products <b>190</b> from a shelf <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b>, they sometimes remove more than one product <b>190</b>, and sometimes inadvertently shift other products <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b> while attempting to reach and grab their product <b>190</b> of interest.

0040To enable the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to monitor the positions of products <b>190</b> on a shelf <b>170</b> after one or more consumers remove products <b>190</b> from the shelf <b>170</b> and/or shift products <b>190</b> away from their initial display positions, and to facilitate appropriately timed zoning of a shelf <b>170</b> by a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed to estimate a position of the products on the shelf <b>170</b> in response to a determination by the control unit <b>210</b> that the measured torque value is below the predetermined threshold torque value stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b>. For example, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed in some embodiments to determine a distance of one or more products <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b> relative to the one or more torque measurement sensors <b>150</b> associated with that shelf <b>170</b>.

0041In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed to determine an estimated position of one or more products <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b> based on at least in part on electronic torque measurement sensor data received from the torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> at the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> (and/or the inventory management database <b>130</b>) via the network <b>115</b>. More specifically, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed in some embodiments to determine that the estimated position of one or more products <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b> supports moving one or more products <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b> further away from the rear end of the shelf and closer to the front end of the shelf <b>170</b>. In such embodiments, in response to a determination by the control unit <b>210</b> that the estimated position of a product <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b> supports moving the product <b>190</b> closer to the front end of the shelf <b>170</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to generate an alert (e.g., to a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>) indicating that the product <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b> is to be moved further away from a rear end of the shelf <b>170</b> and closer to a front end of the shelf <b>170</b>.

0042After products <b>190</b> are removed from the shelf <b>170</b> and purchased by the consumers, the workers at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> are typically tasked with replenishing the products <b>190</b> displayed to consumers on the shelf <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b>, such that the availability of the products <b>190</b> on the shelf <b>170</b> is at or near maximum at any given time. When a product <b>190</b> is taken off the shelf <b>170</b> by a consumer, the replenishment of this product <b>190</b> typically requires a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> to pick an identical product <b>190</b> from a bin or shelf in the stock room and to bring (or have another worker bring) the picked product <b>190</b> to the sales floor <b>105</b> for placement on the shelf <b>170</b> in place of the sold product <b>190</b>.

0043To facilitate the replenishment of products <b>190</b> following sales to consumers, and to increase the on-shelf-availability of products <b>190</b> on the shelves <b>170</b> on the sales floor <b>105</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed in some embodiments to determine, based on torque measurement data received from torque measurement sensor <b>150</b>, that a product <b>190</b> was removed (e.g., by a consumer) from the shelf <b>170</b>, and to generate an alert indicating that a product <b>190</b> identical to the product <b>190</b> removed from the shelf <b>170</b> is to be brought from a stock room and placed on the shelf <b>170</b> to replace the removed product <b>190</b>. In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed to transmit such an alert to the user interface device <b>140</b>, which in turn may either visually display such an alert (e.g., on an electronic display) to the worker, or may generate an audible instruction relaying this alert (e.g., via a speaker) to the worker. In other embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed to transmit such an alert to an optional alert interface device mounted on the shelf <b>170</b> and configured to generate a visual (e.g., blinking light, red light, etc.) alert or an audible alert (beep, verbal command, etc.) to a worker when the worker is in physical proximity to the shelf <b>170</b> and can either see or hear the alert generated by the electronic interface device.

0044<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows a simplified block diagram of a user interface device <b>140</b>, in accordance with some embodiments. The exemplary user interface device <b>140</b> includes one or more control circuits <b>302</b>, memory <b>304</b>, product scanning unit <b>306</b>, input/output (I/O) interface <b>308</b>, user interface <b>310</b>, and power supply <b>312</b>. In some embodiments, the control circuit <b>302</b> includes one or more processors and/or microprocessors. The memory <b>304</b> stores the operational code or set of instructions that is executed by the control circuit <b>302</b> and/or processor to implement the functionality of the user interface device <b>140</b>. In some embodiments, the memory <b>304</b> may also store some or all of particular data that may be needed to make any of the associations, determinations, measurements and/or communications described herein. Such data may be pre-stored in the memory, received from an external source (e.g., the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>), be determined, and/or communicated to the user interface unit.

0045The control circuit <b>302</b> and/or processor may be implemented as one or more processor devices as are well known in the art. Similarly, the memory <b>304</b> may be implemented as one or more memory devices as are well known in the art, such as one or more processor readable and/or computer readable media and can include volatile and/or nonvolatile media, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory and/or other memory technology. Further, the memory <b>304</b> is shown as internal to the user interface device <b>140</b>, but the memory <b>304</b> can be internal, external or a combination of internal and external memory.

0046Generally, the control circuit <b>302</b> and/or electronic components of the user interface device <b>140</b> can include fixed-purpose hard-wired platforms or can comprise a partially or wholly programmable platform. These architectural options are well known and understood in the art and require no further description here. The user interface unit and/or control circuit can be configured (for example, by using corresponding programming as will be well understood by those skilled in the art) to carry out one or more of the steps, actions, and/or functions described herein. In some implementations, the control circuit <b>302</b> and the memory <b>304</b> may be integrated together, such as in a microcontroller, application specification integrated circuit, field programmable gate array or other such device, or may be separate devices coupled together.

0047The product scanning unit <b>306</b> of the exemplary user interface device <b>140</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is configured to scan (e.g., via radio waves) identifying indicia on a product <b>190</b> in order to identify the product <b>190</b> and/or to view and/or to enter worker tasks associated with the product <b>190</b>. The identifying indicia on the products <b>190</b> that may be scanned by the product scanning unit <b>306</b> may include, but is not limited to: two dimensional barcode, radio frequency identification (RFID), near field communication (NFC) identifiers, ultra-wideband (UWB) identifiers, Bluetooth identifiers, images, or other such optically readable, radio frequency detectable or other such code, or combination of such codes. To that end, the product scanning unit <b>306</b> according to some embodiments may include a barcode reader, RFID reader, optical reader, or the like.

0048The I/O interface <b>308</b> of the exemplary user interface device <b>140</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> allows wired and/or wireless communication coupling of the user interface device <b>140</b> to external components, such as the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>, inventory management database <b>130</b>, and/or torque measurement sensor <b>150</b>. Typically, the I/O interface <b>308</b> provides at least wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, RF, and/or other such wireless communication), and in some instances may include any known wired and/or wireless interfacing device, circuit and/or connecting device, such as but not limited to one or more transmitter, receiver, transceiver, etc.

0049The user interface <b>310</b> may be used for user input and/or output display. For example, the user interface <b>310</b> may include any known input devices, such one or more buttons, knobs, selectors, switches, keys, touch input surfaces, audio input, and/or displays, etc. Additionally, the user interface <b>310</b> may include one or more output display devices, such as lights, visual indicators, display screens, etc. to convey information relevant to the monitoring of the positioning of products <b>190</b> on shelves <b>170</b> and/or indication of worker tasks (e.g., to zone a shelf <b>170</b> after some of the products were taken off the shelf <b>170</b> by consumers, to pick a replenishment product <b>190</b> from a bin in a stock room, etc.) to a user such as a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>. The user interface <b>310</b> in some embodiments may also include audio systems that can receive audio commands or requests verbally issued by a user, and/or to output audio content such as audible alerts (e.g., a beep or a verbal instruction identifying the shelf to be zoned) to the worker.

0050The exemplary user interface device <b>140</b> according to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> may include a power supply <b>312</b> that may be rechargeable and/or it may receive power from an external source. While <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates the components of the user interface device <b>140</b> being coupled together via a bus, it is understood that the components of the user interface device <b>140</b> may be coupled to the control circuit <b>302</b> and/or one or more other components directly.

0051<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref> illustrates a simplified view of an exemplary product display shelf <b>470</b> including products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>displayed thereon and coupled at a mounting location <b>464</b> via a mounting device <b>465</b> relative to an upstanding support structure <b>460</b> located on a sales floor <b>405</b> of a retail sales facility. The exemplary product display shelf <b>470</b> has a front end <b>472</b> and a rear end <b>474</b>, and is mounted such that the rear end <b>474</b> of the shelf <b>470</b> is located proximate the support structure <b>460</b> while the front end <b>472</b> of the shelf <b>470</b> is located distal to the support structure <b>460</b>.

0052In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref>, the product <b>490</b><i>a </i>is positioned at the front end <b>472</b> of the shelf <b>470</b>. The products <b>490</b><i>b</i>-<i>d </i>are positioned behind the product <b>490</b><i>a </i>such that the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>is furthest away from the front end <b>472</b> of the shelf and closest to the rear end <b>474</b> of the shelf <b>470</b> and to the support structure <b>460</b>. Thus, a consumer standing in an aisle on the sales floor and looking at the front end <b>472</b> of the shelf <b>470</b> would see the product <b>490</b><i>a </i>and not see the products <b>490</b><i>b</i>-<i>d</i>, since they are located behind the product <b>490</b><i>a</i>. By the same token, the product <b>490</b><i>a </i>would be the easiest for the consumer to access and remove from the shelf <b>470</b>, while the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>would be the most difficult for the consumer to access and remove from the shelf <b>470</b>.

0053While the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref> are identical and have the same weight, each of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d</i>, when exerting a downward force on the shelf <b>470</b> due to gravity, results in a different torque relative to a fulcrum at the mounting location <b>464</b>. Specifically, the product <b>490</b><i>a </i>(which is closest to the front end <b>472</b> and furthest from the rear end <b>474</b> and the fulcrum-like mounting location <b>464</b>) exerts the highest amount of torque and the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>(which is closest to the rear end <b>474</b> and the fulcrum-like mounting location <b>464</b> and furthest from the front end <b>472</b>) exerts the lowest amount of torque. For example, when the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>is in its original position in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref>, the force F exerted by the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>in the downward direction indicated by the arrow in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref> results in a lower torque at the mounting location <b>464</b> than the amount of torque at the mounting location <b>464</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4C</figref> that results from the downward (indicated by arrow) force F exerted by the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>after the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>is moved to the front end <b>472</b> of the shelf <b>470</b>, for example, as a result of a zoning task completion by a worker.

0054In the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4A-C</figref>, the shelf <b>470</b> includes a torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> proximate the mounting location <b>464</b> of the mounting device <b>465</b> to the upstanding support structure <b>460</b>. As discussed in more detail below, a shelf <b>470</b> may have two or more torque measurement sensors <b>450</b>. The torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> is configured to measure the torque exerted by the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>relative to the fulcrum-like mounting location <b>464</b> and to transmit the measured torque values via the network <b>115</b> to the inventory management database <b>130</b>, or to the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>, which in turn may transmit the torque values received from the torque measurement sensor <b>150</b> to the inventory management database <b>130</b>. The inventory management database <b>130</b> may thus store historical torque measurement data associated with each shelf <b>470</b> at the retail sales facility <b>110</b>.

0055The weight of each product <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>is known and is stored in some embodiments in the inventory management database <b>130</b>, enabling the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to estimate a weight distribution of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b> based on the torque measurement data retrieved from the inventory management database <b>130</b>. In some embodiments, the inventory management database <b>130</b> stores predetermined threshold torque values representing a torque exerted by each of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>when in the initial display positions shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref>, and the predetermined threshold torque values representing a total torque that would be exerted on the shelf <b>470</b> when all four products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>are present on the shelf <b>470</b> in their initial display positions (i.e., the shelf <b>470</b> is fully stocked as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref>).

0056In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> is programmed to retrieve from the inventory management database <b>130</b> the torque measurement data transmitted from the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> to the inventory management database <b>130</b>, and to correlate the retrieved torque measurement data to a predetermined threshold torque value stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b> in association with each of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b>. In other words, based on the known predetermined total torque value associated with the shelf <b>470</b> when fully stocked with products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d</i>, the torque exerted by one or more products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b> (which is measured by the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b>) provides an indication of whether the shelf <b>470</b> is fully stocked with products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d</i>, whether one or more products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>are missing from the shelf <b>470</b> (e.g., as a result of being purchased by consumers), whether the shelf <b>470</b> was replenished with one or more products, and/or whether the shelf <b>470</b> is empty and has no products thereon. For example, in response to a determination by the control unit <b>210</b> that the torque value received from the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> is below the predetermined historical threshold torque value stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to interpret this determination as an indication that one or more of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>has been removed from the shelf <b>470</b>, and to generate a zoning task and/or an alert for the shelf <b>470</b>.

0057Since the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>are identical and a predetermined torque value for each of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>in their initial position on the shelf <b>470</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref>) is known, when consumers remove products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>c </i>off the shelf <b>470</b> and product <b>490</b><i>d </i>is the only product remaining on the shelf <b>470</b> (as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref>), the torque measurement data measured by the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> and transmitted to the inventory management database <b>130</b>, when correlated by the control unit <b>210</b> against the predetermined torque values stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b>, would be consistent with the torque value stored in association with the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>in its initial position. However, if a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> zoned the shelf <b>470</b> by moving the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>to the front end <b>472</b> of the shelf (as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4C</figref>), the torque value correlated by the control unit <b>210</b> against the predetermined torque values stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b> would be consistent with the torque value stored in association with the product <b>490</b><i>a </i>in its initial display position, which is occupied in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4C</figref> by the product <b>490</b><i>d</i>. Thus, the correlation of the torque measurement values by the control unit <b>210</b> in real-time against stored historical predetermined torque values for the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>displayed on the shelf <b>470</b> permits the control unit <b>210</b> to determine how many of products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>remain on the shelf and to determine the weight distribution of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>and/or the locations of each of the remaining products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b>.

0058In some embodiments, in response to a determination by the control unit <b>210</b> that the torque value received from the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> is below the predetermined threshold torque value stored in the inventory management database, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to estimate a physical location of one or more of the remaining products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b>. A physical location of any of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b> may be determined by correlating the torque measurement data measured by the torque measurement sensors <b>450</b> associated with the shelf <b>470</b>. For example, when the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>is positioned on the shelf <b>570</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A and 5B</figref>, each of the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>measures a torque exerted by the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>relative to a fulcrum at the mounting location of the mounting devices <b>565</b><i>a </i>and <b>565</b><i>b </i>to their respective support structures. Based on the torque value measured by each of the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>and transmitted by the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>to the inventory management database <b>130</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> determines a distance d<b>1</b> from the torque measurement sensor <b>550</b><i>a </i>to the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>and a second distance d<b>2</b> from the second torque measurement sensor <b>550</b><i>b </i>to the product <b>590</b><i>d</i>. This determination of the distances d<b>1</b> and d<b>2</b> from each of the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>to the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>enables the control unit <b>210</b> to estimate the physical location of the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>on the shelf <b>570</b>, and to determine whether the estimated position of the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>on the shelf <b>570</b> supports moving the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>further away from a rear end <b>574</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> and closer to a front end <b>572</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> (i.e., to zone the shelf <b>570</b>).

0059In some embodiments, the torque measurement values measured by the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>enable the control unit <b>210</b> to estimate the side-to-side location of the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>on the shelf <b>570</b>, i.e., to determine whether the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>is closer to the first side <b>576</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> or to the second side <b>578</b> of the shelf <b>570</b>. For example, the torque measurement values measured by the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>enable the control unit <b>210</b> in some embodiments to estimate a weight distribution percentage of products on the shelf <b>570</b> from the first side <b>576</b> to the second side <b>578</b> (i.e., left to right/right to left). In other words, if the torque measurement values measured by the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>indicate that the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>exerts 60 percent of its torque on the torque measurement sensor <b>550</b><i>a </i>and 40 percent of its torque on the torque measurement sensor <b>550</b><i>b</i>, then the control unit <b>210</b> is enabled to determine that the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>is positioned closer to the first side <b>576</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> and approximately 40 percent of the distance from the first side <b>578</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> to the second side <b>576</b> of the shelf <b>570</b>. In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed, upon a determination of a side-to-side location of the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>between the first side <b>576</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> and the second side <b>578</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> deemed by the control unit <b>210</b> to be inappropriate, to cause the electronic inventory management device to send an alert to the user interface device <b>140</b> of a worker in order to instruct the worker to position the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>in an appropriate side-to-side location on the shelf <b>570</b>.

0060When the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>is the only product remaining on the shelf <b>570</b> is estimated by the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to be in its initial display position at the rear end <b>574</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> (i.e., in a position akin to the position of the product <b>490</b><i>d </i>in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref>), the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed in some embodiments to generate an alert indicating that the shelf <b>570</b> is to be zoned, i.e., that the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>is to be moved further away from the rear end <b>574</b> of the shelf and closer to the front end <b>572</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> such that the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>is easier for the consumers to see and access. For example, in the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>, the control unit <b>210</b> would generate a zoning task instructing a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> to zone the shelf <b>570</b> by moving the sole remaining product <b>590</b><i>d </i>from its initial display position at the rear end <b>574</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> to a position located at the front end <b>572</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref> to make the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>more visible to consumers and easier to access by the consumers. A worker task associated with the zoning task that the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to generate in some embodiments is a pick task, which would instruct a worker to go to the stock room of the retail sales facility <b>110</b> and to pick additional units of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>c </i>from a storage bin in the stock room and to bring the picked products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>c </i>to the sales floor <b>105</b> to replenish the empty spaces on the shelf <b>470</b>.

0061In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to cause the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to send an alert signal to a user interface device <b>140</b> of a worker indicating the generation, by the control unit <b>210</b>, of a zoning task and/or a pick task. Such an alert may be in the form of a displayed message on the user interface <b>310</b> of the user interface device <b>140</b>, or may be in the form of an audible beep or spoken verbal command on the user interface <b>310</b> of the user interface device <b>140</b>. A worker receiving such an alert via the user interface device <b>140</b> would then perform the appropriate task (e.g., zoning and/or picking).

0062In some embodiments, instead of, or in addition to sending an alert signal to the user interface device <b>140</b> of a worker to indicate the generation of a zoning task by the control unit <b>210</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to cause the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to send an alert signal to an alert interface device <b>575</b> mounted proximate to the front end <b>572</b> of the shelf <b>570</b>. The alert interface device <b>575</b> may be a single light or series of lights, a speaker, and/or a visual display configured to generate a visual (e.g., blinking light, red light, etc.) alert or an audible alert (beep, verbal command, etc.) to a worker when the worker is in physical proximity to the shelf <b>570</b>, prompting the worker seeing or hearing the alert to perform the task of zoning with respect to the shelf <b>570</b>. In some embodiments, after the worker performs the zoning task by moving the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>from its initial display position in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref> to the zoned position at the front end <b>572</b> of the shelf <b>570</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to confirm whether the worker performed the zoning task by correlating the newest torque values provided by the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>against the predetermined torque values stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b> and/or by processing the torque values provided by the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b </i>to determine the new physical location of the product <b>590</b><i>d. </i>

0063Referring back to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4A-C</figref>, the mounting device <b>465</b> may be a hinge, bracket, frame, clip, hook, T-bar, or the like mounting structures that are configured to permit detachable or permanent coupling of the shelf <b>470</b> to an upstanding (e.g., vertical and/or slanted) support structure <b>460</b> such as a frame, upright, rod, or the like. The shelf <b>470</b> may be mounted relative to the support structure <b>460</b> via a single mounting device <b>465</b>, two mounting devices <b>465</b>, three mounting devices <b>465</b>, four mounting devices <b>465</b>, or more than four mounting devices <b>465</b>.

0064For example, in the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A and 5B</figref>, the shelf <b>570</b> may be mounted via at least two mounting devices <b>565</b>, a first mounting device <b>565</b><i>a </i>proximate an intersection of the rear end <b>574</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> and a first side <b>576</b> of the shelf <b>570</b>, and a second mounting device <b>565</b><i>b </i>proximate an intersection of the rear end <b>574</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> and a second side <b>578</b> of the shelf <b>570</b>. The shelf <b>570</b> may, in some embodiments, be mounted via four mounting devices <b>565</b> such that a third mounting device is positioned below the mounting device <b>565</b><i>a </i>and a fourth mounting device is positioned below the mounting device <b>565</b><i>b. </i>

0065<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates one exemplary arrangement of mounting a shelf <b>670</b> via a top (i.e., upper) mounting device (i.e., hook) <b>665</b><i>a </i>coupled to support structure <b>660</b><i>a </i>and a bottom (i.e., lower) mounting device (i.e., hook) <b>665</b><i>b </i>positioned below the top mounting device <b>665</b><i>a</i>. In the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, the top and bottom mounting devices <b>665</b><i>a </i>and <b>665</b><i>b </i>are located proximate to the first side <b>676</b> of the shelf <b>670</b> akin to the mounting device <b>565</b><i>a </i>in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A-5B</figref>, and it will be appreciated that the shelf <b>670</b> may include a second pair of mounting devices identical to the mounting devices <b>665</b><i>a </i>and <b>665</b><i>b </i>proximate to the second side of the shelf <b>670</b>. The second side of shelf <b>670</b> is not visible in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, but is akin to second side <b>578</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>.

0066The presence, and more specifically, the weight, of the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>on the <b>670</b> exerts a downward force on the upper-facing surface <b>671</b> of the shelf due to gravity. Since the shelf <b>670</b> is mounted to the upstanding support structures <b>660</b><i>a </i>and <b>660</b><i>b </i>via two hook-like mounting devices <b>665</b><i>a </i>and <b>665</b><i>b </i>as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, the weight of the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>exerts a torque or force (F_t) at the fulcrum-like mounting location <b>664</b><i>a </i>of the top mounting device <b>665</b><i>a </i>to the support structure <b>660</b><i>a </i>in a direction indicated by the right-facing arrow. Similarly, the weight of the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>exerts a torque or force (F_b) at the fulcrum-like mounting location <b>664</b><i>b </i>of the bottom mounting device <b>665</b><i>b </i>to the support structure <b>660</b><i>b </i>in a direction indicated by the left-facing arrow. A first torque measurement sensor <b>650</b><i>a </i>is mounted proximate the mounting location <b>664</b><i>a </i>to measure the torque F_t, and a second torque measurement sensor <b>650</b><i>b </i>is mounted proximate the mounting location <b>664</b><i>b </i>to measure the torque F_b.

0067It will be appreciated that the size of the torque measurement sensors <b>650</b><i>a </i>and <b>650</b><i>b </i>in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is not drawn to scale. It will also be appreciated that while the torque measurement sensors <b>650</b><i>a </i>and <b>650</b><i>b </i>are shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> as being positioned on top of the hook-like mounting deices <b>665</b><i>a </i>and <b>665</b><i>b </i>by way of example only, the torque measurement sensors <b>650</b><i>a </i>and <b>650</b><i>b </i>may be located below, on the side of, or proximate the mounting devices <b>665</b><i>a </i>and <b>665</b><i>b</i>. It will likewise be appreciated that, in some embodiments, instead of having top and bottom torque measurement sensors <b>650</b><i>a </i>and <b>650</b><i>b </i>proximate the exemplary top and bottom mounting devices <b>665</b><i>a </i>and <b>665</b><i>b</i>, respectively, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, the shelf <b>670</b> may have only one bottom torque measurement sensor <b>650</b><i>b </i>proximate the bottom mounting device <b>665</b><i>b</i>, and no top torque measurement sensor <b>650</b><i>a </i>proximate the top hook-like mounting device <b>665</b><i>a. </i>

0068If the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>were located closer to the rear end <b>674</b> of the shelf <b>670</b> and further away from the front end of the shelf <b>670</b>, the torque F_tand the torque F_bwould be lower, since the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>would be closer to the fulcrum-like mounting locations <b>664</b><i>a </i>and <b>664</b><i>b </i>of the top and bottom mounting devices <b>665</b><i>a </i>and <b>665</b><i>b </i>to their respective support structures <b>660</b><i>a </i>and <b>660</b><i>b</i>. Conversely, if the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>were located further away from the rear end <b>674</b> of the shelf <b>670</b> and closer to the front end of the shelf <b>670</b>, the torque F_tand the torque F_bwould be higher, since the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>would be further away from the fulcrum-like mounting locations <b>664</b><i>a </i>and <b>664</b><i>b </i>of the top and bottom mounting devices <b>665</b><i>a </i>and <b>665</b><i>b </i>to their respective support structures <b>660</b><i>a </i>and <b>660</b><i>b</i>. Accordingly, the torque (i.e., F_tand/or F_b) exerted by the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>on the shelf <b>670</b> and measured by the torque measurement sensors <b>650</b><i>a </i>and <b>650</b><i>b </i>provides an indication of the physical location of the product <b>690</b><i>a </i>on the shelf, as discussed above with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A and 5B</figref>.

0069<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> illustrates a simplified flow diagram of an exemplary process <b>700</b> of monitoring placement of products on shelves at a retail sales facility <b>110</b>. The method <b>700</b> is described in the context of the system <b>100</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> by way of example only, and it will be appreciated that embodiments of the method <b>700</b> may be implemented not only in the system <b>100</b>, but in other systems. Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4A and 7</figref>, step <b>710</b> of the exemplary method <b>700</b> includes providing at least one torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> proximate at least one mounting location <b>464</b> of a shelf <b>470</b> on a sales floor <b>405</b> of the retail sales facility <b>110</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4A and 6</figref> illustrate exemplary product display shelves <b>470</b> and <b>670</b> coupled at mounting locations <b>464</b><b>664</b><i>a</i>, and <b>664</b><i>b </i>via mounting devices <b>465</b>, <b>665</b><i>a</i>, and <b>665</b><i>b </i>relative to upstanding support structures <b>460</b>, <b>660</b><i>a</i>, and <b>660</b><i>b</i>. As discussed above, the coupling of the mounting device <b>465</b> (i.e., a hook) to the upstanding support structure <b>460</b> (i.e., an upright and/or bracket) provides for a fulcrum-like structure at the mounting location <b>464</b>.

0070In the embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref>, one torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> is provided to measure a torque exerted by the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>relative to the fulcrum of the shelf <b>480</b>, while in the embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A and 6</figref>, two torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a</i>, <b>550</b><i>b</i>, <b>650</b><i>a</i>, and <b>650</b><i>b </i>are provided, but it will be appreciated that the number of torque measurement sensors may be larger than two (e.g., 3, 4, 5, 6, or more), and may be chosen based on the size of the shelf and/or the support structure on which the shelf is mounted. In step <b>720</b>, the torque exerted one or more products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<b>490</b><i>d </i>located on the shelf <b>470</b> relative to a fulcrum at the mounting location <b>464</b> is measured via one or more torque measurement sensors <b>450</b>. After the torque exerted by the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>located on the shelf <b>470</b> relative to the fulcrum at the mounting location <b>464</b> is measured by the torque measurement sensor or sensors <b>450</b>, the next step (step <b>730</b>) of the exemplary method <b>700</b> includes sending a signal from the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> to an electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> including a processor-based control unit <b>210</b> via the network <b>115</b>. The torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> is configured to transmit the measured torque values via the network <b>115</b> to the inventory management database <b>130</b> or to the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b>, which in turn may transmit the torque values received from the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> to the inventory management database <b>130</b>.

0071Step <b>740</b> of the exemplary method <b>300</b> includes receiving electronic data associated with the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d</i>, and estimating a weight distribution of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b> based on the received electronic data and the torque measured by the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b>. Examples of electronic data in step <b>740</b> may include but is not limited to a unique identifier of each of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d</i>, a weight of each product <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d</i>, historical torque value data associated with the shelf <b>470</b> in general and/or with the individual products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d</i>. As described above, based on a correlation of the torque values provided by the torque measurement sensor <b>450</b> to predetermined torque values stored in the inventory management database <b>130</b>, the control unit <b>210</b> of the electronic inventory management device is programmed to determine that one or more of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>has been removed from the shelf <b>470</b>, and to generate a zoning task (i.e., a task instructing the worker to move a product from a position at the rear end <b>474</b> of the shelf to a position at the front end <b>472</b> of the shelf), and to transmit an appropriate alert, either to a user interface device <b>140</b> of a worker at the retail sales facility <b>110</b> and/or to an alert interface device <b>475</b> located on the shelf <b>470</b>.

0072The correlation of the torque measurement values by the control unit <b>210</b> against predetermined historical stored torque values for the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>displayed on the shelf <b>470</b> permits the control unit <b>210</b> to determine how many of products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>remain on the shelf <b>470</b> and to determine the weight distribution of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>and/or the locations of each of the remaining products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b>. A physical location of any of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>d </i>on the shelf <b>470</b> may be determined by correlating the torque measurement data measured by the torque measurement sensors <b>450</b> associated with the shelf <b>470</b>. As described above, based on the torque value measured by each of the torque measurement sensors <b>550</b><i>a </i>and <b>550</b><i>b</i>, the control unit <b>210</b> determines a distance d<b>1</b> from the torque measurement sensor <b>550</b><i>a </i>to the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>and a second distance d<b>2</b> from the second torque measurement sensor <b>550</b><i>b </i>to the product <b>590</b><i>d</i>, which enables the control unit <b>210</b> to estimate the physical location of the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>on the shelf <b>570</b>. This estimation of the physical location of the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>on the shelf <b>570</b> enables the control unit <b>210</b> to determine whether the estimated position of the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>on the shelf <b>570</b> supports moving the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>further away from a rear end <b>574</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> and closer to a front end <b>572</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> (i.e., to zone the shelf <b>570</b>).

0073More specifically, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed in some embodiments to generate an alert indicating that the shelf <b>570</b> is to be zoned, i.e., that the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>is to be moved further away from the rear end <b>574</b> of the shelf and closer to the front end <b>572</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> such that the product <b>590</b><i>d </i>is easier for the consumers to see and access. In some embodiments, when generating a zoning task, the control unit <b>210</b> is also programmed to generate a pick task instructing a worker to go to the stock room of the retail sales facility <b>110</b> and to pick additional units of the products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>c </i>from a storage bin in the stock room, and to bring the picked products <b>490</b><i>a</i>-<i>c </i>to the sales floor <b>105</b> to replenish the empty spaces on the shelf <b>470</b>.

0074In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> is programmed to cause the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to send an alert signal to a user interface device <b>140</b> of a worker indicating that a zoning task and/or a pick task has been generated for the worker. In some embodiments, the control unit <b>210</b> may be programmed to cause the electronic inventory management device <b>120</b> to send an alert signal to an alert interface device <b>575</b> mounted proximate to the front end <b>572</b> of the shelf <b>570</b> and configured to generate a visual or an audible alert to a worker when the worker is in physical proximity to the shelf <b>570</b>, and can either see and/or hear the alert generated by the alert interface device <b>575</b>, prompting the worker to perform the task of zoning with respect to the shelf <b>570</b>.

0075The systems and methods described herein provide for torque measurement-based monitoring of locations of products displayed on the shelves at a retail sales facility and timely generation of shelf zoning tasks for the workers at the retail sales facility without requiring the workers to manually inspect each shelf on the sales floor to determine whether zoning of the shelf is warranted. Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein advantageously improve the on-shelf-availability of products and the efficiency of workers at the retail sales facility, thereby provide for significant cost savings to the retail sales facilities.

0076Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of other modifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.